General Assembly's Hollywood-Like Thriller Had Happy Ending

May 02, 2012

In the tying-up-loose-ends-category, there was a happy conclusion to the Hollywood-like thriller that played out two weeks ago in order to get a budget passed by the Senate. With Senate Democrats blocking every attempt to reach an agreement with specious demands that ended the General Assembly without a budget, and with prospects not better during an extra taxpayer funded special session for work that should've been completed in March not showing any better prospects because of Democrat obstructionism preposterous demands, all seemed doomed. But Senator Charles Colgan, a Prince William Democrat and senior member of the chamber, who previously said he would vote for the budget only to keep party hegemony during the special session's first vote, told the GOP leadership he would throw in with them.
The problem was that between his false start and the time of day that he informed Majority Leader Tommy Norment that he was ready to join Republicans to provide the 21st vote necessary to pass the budget, Senator Harry Blevins, a Chesapeake Republican, was in his car, 20 miles south of Richmond on I-95, near Petersburg, getting home as quick as possible. Seeing no imminent breakthrough — and who could blame him? — he left the capital immediately on the coincidental word that his wife of more than 50 years was experiencing complications in the hospital. She was not responding to medication and "doctors were talking about using defibrillation paddles to jolt her heart back into rhythm," as reported by The Washington Post's Laura Vozzella.

Attempts to reach him by phone and text were useless as Senator Blevins does not pick up his phone while driving and did not want to delay his return to his wife by pulling over. But the constant buzzing got the best of his interest and he answered the call — literally. When he was told that this time they had Senator Colgan's vote, for sure, he reversed course back to the capitol. In the meantime, the Senate leadership through the governor's office asked the State Police to put out an all points bulletin on his Nissan Altima. Capitol Police were instructed to let him pull right up to Mr. Jefferson's temple — where lawmakers used to park in designated spots along the service road around the building in days before tightened security — so he could get to the floor as quick as possible.

Getting him home, though was another matter. Likely at Senate leadership's request, the governor's office authorized the use of a State Police helicopter, but not before Virginia Beach Republican Delegate Barry Knight, a licensed pilot who owns his own bird, was approached and agreed to fly Senator Blevins home (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot). He boarded the state chopper two blocks from the capitol at VCU's Medical College of Virginia helipad and landed at the helipad of the Chesapeake hospital (AP via Washington Post) within an hour of the vote. A staffer of Senator Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach) drove the Altima back to Chesapeake. It was perfect, though impromptu, logistical harmony. Too bad less hectic legislative scenarios can't play out half as efficiently.

With all the unusual acrimony in the normally staid Senate through the regular and special sessions, there seemed to be unanimity over this. Even the very partisan Northern Virginia liberal Senator Janet Howell thought the special lift was appropriate (even though left wing activists ranted in the Post's comment section). Legislators do not get transportation to their districts from the State Police, but the extraordinary circumstance and the unusual sacrifice — and the close calls of the simultaneous situations Senator Blevins found himself in — made for the noteworthy exception.

Even with all the frantic twists and turns, there was another, more important componen to the story, to make it a complete triumph: Mrs. Blevins also reversed course by eventually responding positively to her medication and did not need defibrillation jolts. She was discharged two days later. It's not only in Hollywood where the impossible turns out to be possible and have a happy ending. It even happens at the General Assembly, where more than one movie has been filmed in recent months (and years). We're happy for Senator and Mrs. Blevins and continue to keep them in our prayers.

Medicaid is Crowding-Out Free Clinics

Medicaid is Crowding-Out Free Clinics

The Family Foundation consistently warned that government expansion of Medicaid would increase in demand and cost. But it is also clear now that government expansion of Medicaid is crowding-out charitable and nonprofit organizations currently providing the same service. As more Medicaid eligible patients register, the less patients that free and charitable clinics will have to serve. And without a steady number of patients to serve, free medical clinics will ultimately experience a decline in state and private funding.

WATCH: Eric Metaxes Inspires at 2017 Family Foundation Gala

WATCH: Eric Metaxes Inspires at 2017 Family Foundation Gala

As promised, I wanted you to get the video LINK to The Family Foundation’s 2017 Gala program. If you weren’t there, bestselling author and radio commentator Eric Metaxes kept the attendees of the packed convention room hanging on his every word, and I wanted to make sure you had the chance to see it for yourself. And if you were with us that evening, you’re probably interested in watching it again. Either way, please SHARE THIS with your friends and family.

You will definitely be encouraged by his timely and insightful message to people of faith in an ever-darkening culture.

I also want you to have the chance to hear from me as well, as I spoke about the value and importance of ordinary people “stepping up” in often small but hugely impactful ways. I also share my vision and sense of renewed purpose for The Family Foundation in the challenging years ahead.

If you weren’t able to join us, you will definitely want to watch it now. I hope you will be enlightened, encouraged, and inspired by what you see and hear.

Note to ACLU: Join Us!

Note to ACLU: Join Us!

It’s good when organizations that often find themselves on opposite sides can work together. At The Family Foundation, we’ve sought opportunities to join coalitions of diverse groups on important issues that shouldn’t be partisan. That’s why we’ve worked with groups like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and others on ending the shackling of pregnant prison inmates, and with similar coalitions on financial reparations for victims of eugenics, foster and kinship care issues and others.

So we were thrilled the other day when we saw that the ACLU agrees with The Family Foundation when it comes to following laws regarding the creation and removal of regulations. You see, the federal government has to follow the federal Administrative Procedure Act and Virginia government has to follow the state Administrative Process Act. These laws, as boring and cumbersome as they are, ensure that presidents and governors – or the entities tasked with regulations – cannot act unfettered. It’s a rule of law thing.

Recently we learned that the ACLU is suing President Trump for his decision to undo a requirement that religious entities pay for their employees’ birth control under the ACA. One of the arguments they are making is that the Trump administration violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because they allege the interim rules were released without complying with the APA’s notice and public comment requirements.

Coincidentally, that is exactly the argument being made by plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the McAuliffe administration, partially funded by The Family Foundation, after McAuliffe’s Board of Health failed to comply with the state’s APA on not just public comment requirements, but multiple other provisions as well, as it watered down health and safety standards for abortion centers. You see, following the law kinda matters, or at least it should.

Yet, to this point, the ACLU of Virginia has been strangely silent on the McAuliffe administration’s blatant violation of the law, while the ACLU national headquarters has already filed suit against Trump – though whether or not the Trump administration actually did violate APA is a matter of great question.

I’ll go on record now to say if President Trump violated the federal APA, his policy decision should be reversed and put through the proper legal channels. You see, it shouldn’t matter who the executive is or if you agree or disagree with the ultimate policy in question. The law should be followed to get to the desired end. Given the ACLU’s history of, well, let’s just say less than accurate legal arguments, I’m not super confident that their case against the President has merit, but time will tell.

I can tell you that there is no question the McAuliffe administration violated the law, numerous times. So, it would seem, if the rule of law matters to the ACLU as much as they claim, they should be joining our lawsuit any day now.